2018: The Year Of 'Release'

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Happy new year, friends. I hope you had a great time ringing it in, whether you went out or stayed in, were with people or were by yourself.

I went in to the city to celebrate, first to my friend's apartment, then migrating to a bar a few blocks away. It was my first time being out in a public place for New Year's, rather than somebody's home. It was a lot of fun. We were given a free shot to take at midnight of some beer that smelled like soy sauce. When we got back to my friend's apartment, it was nearly 2 a.m. and everyone was hungry, so we made a frozen pizza and split it ten ways.

It was a very happy start to the year, one that I hope comes easier than the last.

For 2018, I decided not to make any resolutions. I usually do – I like the idea of setting goals with the intent of bettering yourself or your life in some way. It's motivating and productive.

But this year, I'm not doing that through resolutions. Instead, I'm doing it through my word for the year.

As a whole, 2017 was difficult for me. Of course great things still happened, but there were also many times where I questioned or doubted or struggled. Every time I felt sad, I thought, Again? Already? The line became blurred where I wasn't sure if I was a happy person with sad moments, or a sad person with happy moments. (And maybe that sounds dramatic and I'll regret writing it later, but that's really how it felt at the tail end of the year.)

All of this is why my word for the year is RELEASE.

It's not about not having those types of feelings – I'm sure I'll still have them, and when I do, I'm sure I'll still write about them too. It's just about not letting them take over so much.

Release stress. Release pressure. Release obligations. Release all worries and doubts.
Release anything that doesn't serve me to make room for what does.
Acknowledge the negative emotions, accept them, allow myself to feel, then let them go.
Slow down. Let things be.
Remember that everything is as it should be.

Releasing, and enjoying everything that comes with it.
A calmness. An ease.

I have high hopes for 2018. I've been looking forward to this. I have good things planned, especially when it comes to this blog. For one thing, monthly wrap-ups are out and bi-weekly sharing posts are in. Get ready. (The monthly reads are still in too.)

Other things I hope to do this year:
– Watch more documentaries.
– Go to the movie theatre solo to see what that's like.
– Check out new classes at my gym.
– Try an open mic/stand-up. Maybe. No pressure.

I hope you take these first few days of the month to set the tone for the year and establish what you want, but remember that you can start again whenever you want.